Voter turnout thus far proves weekday voting is no hindrance

TTF: The EC’s disclosure of voter turnout (see news item below) proves that weekday voting is no cause for concern among Malaysians seeking to fulfil their democratically conferred rights as citizens to determine who governs the country.

PUTRAJAYA: As at 10am today, 24 per cent of the total 14.9 million registered voters has cast their ballot at the 14th General Election (GE14).

EC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah said this is a positive development, considering that voting centres nationwide were only open at 8am.

“We had set a target of 85 per cent voter turnout for GE14.

“I have also received early reports that the voting process nationwide is progressing smoothly. The only issues are perhaps complaints about the long queues. We hope voters will be more patient,” he said, at a press conference, after casting his vote at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 16 (1) here, today.

“If the ballot paper was put into the box for state instead of parliament, it does not necessarily mean a spoilt vote. There will be party agents who will monitor the situation during the tabulation process of ballot papers later,” he added.